Talk Centers On Veterans' Hospitals

October 28, 1992|By GARY LIBOW; Courant Staff Writer

WETHERSFIELD — U.S. Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell of Maine, who sits on the Veterans' Affairs Committee, said Tuesday he believes the Veterans' Administration hospital system provides excellent care, but there is "room for improvement."

Amid allegations that the VA Medical Center in West Haven is improperly treating distressed veterans, Mitchell -- on the campaign stump for fellow Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn. -- said he personally has no qualms about being treated at a VA hospital.

Mitchell joined Dodd at a meeting with veterans' advocacy groups from across the state to discuss concerns about care. The meeting comes in the wake of the third death of a Vietnam veteran at or near the West Haven hospital in less than two years.

Dodd said a large portion of the late afternoon meeting focused on the need to allot more federal money for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder.

After the closed-door meeting, Dodd said he told representatives that "skyrocketing" cases of post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse make added VA funding a priority in Washington.

"It's becoming a national problem," Dodd said. " We've got a lot of work to do; a lot has been done."

Dodd said he made a commitment to the advocacy groups that he will push for the West Haven hospital to receive a "special designation" for added funding.

Linda S. Schwartz, regional director of the Vietnam Veterans of America, said she was pleased that the West Haven medical center and VA centers nationwide have been targeted by the legislators for attention.

Jim Hill, a member of the West Haven VA medical health advisory committee, agreed the session was productive.

"It was a good meeting," said Hill, a veteran who lives in West Haven. "We need more staff. We need more designated funding for